Author: Arpi Talalian

 14:16, 29 January, 2020

YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, ARMENPRESS. Two Chinese nationals are under medical supervision in an isolation ward in Armenia after one of them developed a 37 degree fever and was not allowed to cross into Georgia at the border. Medics are currently evaluating their condition and carrying out lung x-rays to determine if they have pneumonia, Liana Torosyan, the head of the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention said at a news conference.

The two were traveling on a bus.

“All passengers on board the bus, both Chinese and other nationals, have been screened for fever three times. One of the Chinese passengers had no fever and is currently under medical supervision. The other one had only 37 degree fever and is currently undergoing lung screening. Let’s see what the screening tests will show, but right now both of them are doing fine. But nevertheless they will remain in isolation under medical supervision”, Torosyan said.

Torosyan said they don’t rule out that it may be a false alarm and the Chinese national simply has fever due to the seasonal flu.  She said the tourists came to Armenia from Georgia.

She said the tests can only show whether or not the suspected cases have pneumonia. Torosyan said Armenia doesn’t currently have the lab capacity to test for the novel coronovirus. In the event of suspicion, samples will be sent to European labs.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 16:23,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has signed an instruction to close the state border in the Far East as a measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus, TASS reports.

"A corresponding instruction was signed today. Work on it is already in progress. We will inform all those concerned properly about the measures to close the border in the Far Eastern region and other steps the government has taken [to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Russia]," TASS quoted Mishustin as saying in his opening remarks at the Cabinet’s meeting on Thursday.

A total of 16 border checkpoints, including automobile and railway checkpoints, will be shut down.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

 13:08,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Top figures of the Armenian sport offered condolences over the death of US basketball legend Kobe Bryant.

Captain of the Armenian national football team Henrikh Mkhitaryan wrote on Facebook: “Saddening moment for the world of sports. An inspiration, an icon, an everlasting winner you have been for so many athletes. We will miss you Kobe”.

Greco-Roman wrestler, world and Europe champion Arsen Julfalakyan said he once saw Kobe Bryant in a cafeteria and thought how many people would like to be like him. “An athlete who has created a history of sports, was sitting calmly like the remaining athletes. This is very exemplary for the youth”, he said.

“Rest in Peace”, Olympic Games, world and Europe champion Artur Alexanyan said on Instagram posting Bryant’s photo.

US basketball legend, five-time MBA champion Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna are among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the city of Calabasas, California, reports BBC.

Bryant, 41, was travelling in a private helicopter when it came down and burst into flames.

The LA county sheriff said there were no survivors.

Bryant played for the LA Lakers throughout his career and is considered one of the greatest players in the game's history.

Moments of silence have been observed at basketball games across the US.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Pashinyan appreciates Armenian Democratic Liberal Party’s support to ongoing large-scale reforms

 19:13, 1 November, 2019

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on November 1 received the representatives of the Central Board of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramgavar) led by chair of the Central Board (Canada) Mikayel Kharapian, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.

The Armenian PM said he is happy for another meeting with the party representatives and highlighted the contacts and discussions in this format. “Our last meeting with the representatives of the party took place this year in September in Los Angeles during my visit to the United States. We attach importance to the role and activity of Armenian traditional parties, in particular the Ramgavar Party in preserving the Armenian identity and strengthening the Armenia-Diaspora-Artsakh ties. We highly appreciate the party’s position and support to Armenia’s ongoing reforms in different spheres and attach importance to the continuation of our dialogue”, Pashinyan said.

The Chair of the party’s Central Board also highlighted the meeting with the Armenian PM which is a good chance to discuss the joint actions in strengthening the homeland. Mikayel Kharapian said the party supports PM Pashinyan, the Armenian government and reaffirms its support to the large-scale reforms and programs directed for Armenia’s progress.

During the meeting issues relating to the preservation of the Armenian identity, the intensification of Armenia-Diaspora-Artsakh ties, the activity of the traditional Armenian parties, the cooperation between the government and the party were discussed.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Aliyev sacks two deputy PMs

 17:50,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sacked Deputy Prime Minister Ali Hasanov and Deputy Prime Minister Hajibala Abutalibov, RIA Novosti reported citing the Azerbaijani presidency.

Aliyev signed a decree on dismissing the two deputy PMs without mentioning a reason.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenian President meets with Schneider Group founder

 15:25, 11 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian received founder of the famous German company Schneider Group, Ulf Schneider, the President’s Office told Armenpress.

The company has an office in Yerevan which provides consultancy in the business development field to boost the flow of investments.

At the meeting Ulf Schneider introduced the President on the initiative called from Lisbon to Vladivostok, which aims at intensifying the economic ties and cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). He proposed to hold the conference of this initiative in Armenia next year.

“Armenia is a good bridge between the EU and the EAEU. I personally participated in the Armenian Summit of Minds this year in Dilijan, and I am inspired with the summit and believe that Armenia is a good place for hosting this event”, Ulf Schneider said. He informed that recently the meeting of the initiative group was held in Brussels attended by the representatives of the European Commission and the EAEU.

President Armen Sarkissian welcomed this initiative and stated that he is ready to assist to organize the event as much as possible.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan